The Best Loudspeakers We Heard at AXPONA 2025 & 2026

[isolar8001]

Yikes !

 

[Steve81]

Gents, my response was crafted to get a quick reply from those in charge. I do try to be level headed, and even handed, but dismayed on this one. In the YouTube world, this article is referred to as Click Bait. The Title brings you in with the promise of something not delivered. When I see a YouTube doing that, I quickly move on. Perhaps I should have just kept quiet this time, but thought this needed my response. I don't want Audioholics to be like that. If it becomes known for that it's readership will dwindle. If you want a Site like that fine, folks like me will have to move on.

For those of you who think I'm not being fair to SVS, I started this thread 9 days ago when I came across their first video on the SVS 5000 R|Evolution Subwoofer

I too am looking forward to the review by @shadyJ based on science and not fluff.

I wouldn’t get too worked up about it. A hotel room packed with other individuals isn’t a place to get significant listening data, so how much could James really say in any case?

 

[gene]

Gents, my response was crafted to get a quick reply from those in charge. I do try to be level headed, and even handed, but dismayed on this one. In the YouTube world, this article is referred to as Click Bait. The Title brings you in with the promise of something not delivered. When I see a YouTube doing that, I quickly move on. Perhaps I should have just kept quiet this time, but thought this needed my response. I don't want Audioholics to be like that. If it becomes known for that it's readership will dwindle. If you want a Site like that fine, folks like me will have to move on.

For those of you who think I'm not being fair to SVS, I started this thread 9 days ago when I came across their first video on the SVS 5000 R|Evolution Subwoofer

I too am looking forward to the review by @shadyJ based on science and not fluff.

4 posts in derailing the thread. I invite you to drop it or get a temp ban. The purpose of this thread is to spark discussion of the products covered and AXPONA in general.

 

[lovinthehd]

It's not nonsense, it's common sense. China has been flooding the USA and the world with artificially low priced goods produced in part by slave labor and funded by the government in order to dominate international trade. Unfortunately they've largely succeeded at the expense of the west.

It's also unfortunate that the liberal mass media is also seemingly in the back pocket of the Chinese as they don't report on facts such as China's high tariffs on US and EU products or the enormous costs for foreign manufacturers to setup shop in China or the fact the foreigners are not allowed to own property in China.

Yep, it's about time. Thank you president Trump.

We moved our manufacturing there voluntarily. The west willingly buys the goods. The duties in china are what particularly on what products? Hopefully you're not getting your facts from the the usual lies trump offers. There is little to "thank" trump for in any case, he's a pox.

 

[mono-bloc]

With regard to what speaker is best, is of cause governed by availability and price. And with the American tariffs being imposed the choice sadly is depleting One brand / model which you seem to have ignored is the Swiss Clarisys models. While you might say that it's not been discussed due to the high price. Unyet you discuss the Magico M9, which at one point was equal in price to a couple of Porsche sports cars. Clarisysaudioglobal clarisysaudioglobal.com

 

[shadyJ]

Sorry, but I didn't think the comment was cheesy, but justified.

Let's have @shadyJ comment as to why he led off a very limited (Only 8) "reviews" of what he considered:
"The Best Loudspeakers We Heard at AXPONA 2025"

(His title for the article & Font not mine) with something he didn't even listen to as the first speaker he led off the article with, which I think colored the whole piece. He said this was a show "with over 200 rooms". Didn't he think any speakers in the other 192+ Rooms were better than one he only saw, and didn't hear? Sounds like some Snake Oil may be seeping into things, or there must be a lot of vendors trying to sell absolute crap speakers in those other rooms.

I'm not used to this on Audioholics in my 10 years as a member. But that's just my opinion.

Sorry for the late reply, I have been away for a bit. The reason for mentioning the SB-5000 is because we didn't actually run a preview article on these new subs and I wanted to give regular readers a heads up on this product. I also wanted to touch on the fact that this system, as well as so many others in the show, was way overkill for these small hotel rooms. If SVS really wanted to show off what their subs could do, they should have demoe'd them in a conference room. I think their speakers and subs are good enough to handle a much larger room.

 

[TheAVInsider]

Well on that note,
Stereo Integrity had no issue bringing their HFS-24 dual opposed 24" subwoofers in a sealed cabinet. They played with that at well above reference, for brief periods, throughout the show. In room #378. That was no conference room.
It was hilarious to listen to SVS spitting so much snake venom in their sales pitches. I don't know what they paid to have that spot in the writeup, but SVS was certainly no where near best of show.
I was really looking forward to seeing RBH again. They had a nice setup at Axpona last year, and a killer setup a few months later at MWAVE.
Paradigm was about the only other multi-channel listening room that I spent time in this year.

 

[Danzilla31]

Well on that note,
Stereo Integrity had no issue bringing their HFS-24 dual opposed 24" subwoofers in a sealed cabinet. They played with that at well above reference, for brief periods, throughout the show. In room #378. That was no conference room.
It was hilarious to listen to SVS spitting so much snake venom in their sales pitches. I don't know what they paid to have that spot in the writeup, but SVS was certainly no where near best of show.

I'm confused Shady just was writing about rooms he managed to get to or items like the new SVS subs that caught his eye.

I don't think this article was a best in show type article unless I misread it?

I know AVS forums stamps on a Best of show type of award on there articles on these shows but I don't think Shady and Audioholics usually does that

 

[Danzilla31]

I'm confused Shady just was writing about rooms he managed to get to or items like the new SVS subs that caught his eye.

I don't think this article was a best in show type article unless I misread it?

I know AVS forums stamps on a Best of show type of award on there articles on these shows but I don't think Shady and Audioholics usually does that

Never mind Duh it's in the title of the article.

Excuse me I'm late to my appointment of dumb things I've done lately

 

[TLS Guy]

Sorry for the late reply, I have been away for a bit. The reason for mentioning the SB-5000 is because we didn't actually run a preview article on these new subs and I wanted to give regular readers a heads up on this product. I also wanted to touch on the fact that this system, as well as so many others in the show, was way overkill for these small hotel rooms. If SVS really wanted to show off what their subs could do, they should have demoe'd them in a conference room. I think their speakers and subs are good enough to handle a much larger room.

I think you are correct about overkill. There really is not a lot of musical energy in sub range except from pipe organs. I find movie booms rather overdone and frankly irritating these days.

Part of the issue is the inherent basement acoustic efficiency of most subs to reduce the form factor for domestic tranquility.

If you use physics to your advantage and don't try to fight it, you get as much and as deep a bass as required with remarkably little power.

So I have four 10" drivers in two transmission lines that are not actually sub drivers, but ideal for my application. That is up front, and there are two lines in the rear with two KEF B139s in each that extend well into sub range at power.

In the front lines the sub outputs are mixed in.

The amps powering these never break a sweat.

I was playing this recently and the 32' pedals were shaking my chair and the floor. It was downstairs as well and my wife came up to voice complaint about shaking downstairs. That is the trouble with deep bass it really leaks. That is with this rooms integrity beefed up and the walls all full of dampening.

 

[Happy Joe]

I think you are correct about overkill. There really is not a lot of musical energy in sub range except from pipe organs. I find movie booms rather overdone and frankly irritating these days.

Part of the issue is the inherent basement acoustic efficiency of most subs to reduce the form factor for domestic tranquility.

If you use physics to your advantage and don't try to fight it, you get as much and as deep a bass as required with remarkably little power.

So I have four 10" drivers in two transmission lines that are not actually sub drivers, but ideal for my application. That is up front, and there are two lines in the rear with two KEF B139s in each that extend well into sub range at power.

In the front lines the sub outputs are mixed in.

The amps powering these never break a sweat.

I was playing this recently and the 32' pedals were shaking my chair and the floor. It was downstairs as well and my wife came up to voice complaint about shaking downstairs. That is the trouble with deep bass it really leaks. That is with this rooms integrity beefed up and the walls all full of dampening.

How do you keep the seams in the drywall from opening up?
physical building limitations have put a damper on my low end listening since the early 1980's...
Enjoy!

 

[paulgyro]

I'm interested to learn more about the new Philharmonic Audio products, I've seen them on Facebook and such and now here with no details. It's killing me !

 

[j_garcia]

I'm interested to learn more about the new Philharmonic Audio products, I've seen them on Facebook and such and now here with no details. It's killing me !

The Super BMR and their new tower are both up on their site now. That new tower doesn't have much info yet though.

 

[Kvn_Walker]

I'm interested to learn more about the new Philharmonic Audio products, I've seen them on Facebook and such and now here with no details. It's killing me !

There's a lengthy and informative thread on AVS Forum. I won't link a competing site, but it's easy to find.

 

[audiogod66]

So many amazing loudspeakers out - the "RBH active tower called the Obelisk, which used an 8” AMT tweeter, a 10” planar magnetic midrange, and two 8” bass drivers " I expect would sound remarkable but probably overkill for my downsized listening area now. Pretty sure they have no distributor in Australia. Very interested in the new Performa range from Revel looking forward to some reviews and pray that pricing is not too crazy. I must say philharmonic audio ship too Australia and I heard from A guy in Western Australia selling a set to fund his new updated Super BMR shipping in November. They arrived safely but WA to rural NSW the freight companies are dreadful so makes more sense to perhaps wait and get a new pair - I think the new towers are insane value.
Great article
cheers

 

[TankTop5]

I scanned through the thread and didn’t see anything, did you guys get a chance to check out the new Philharmonics?

 

[shadyJ]

I scanned through the thread and didn’t see anything, did you guys get a chance to check out the new Philharmonics?

Yes, check it out...

The Best Loudspeakers We Heard at AXPONA 2026

In our AXPONA 2026 Show Report we highlight some of the Best dounding dpeakers We Heard, From Flagship Systems to Budget Gems that truly stole the show

www.audioholics.com

 

[TankTop5]

Yes, check it out...

The Best Loudspeakers We Heard at AXPONA 2026

In our AXPONA 2026 Show Report we highlight some of the Best dounding dpeakers We Heard, From Flagship Systems to Budget Gems that truly stole the show

www.audioholics.com

I must have missed it, thanks. I may consider ordering once they’re available, everything is sold out right now on their website.

 

[MrBoat]

It's not nonsense, it's common sense. China has been flooding the USA and the world with artificially low priced goods produced in part by slave labor and funded by the government in order to dominate international trade. Unfortunately they've largely succeeded at the expense of the west.

It's also unfortunate that the liberal mass media is also seemingly in the back pocket of the Chinese as they don't report on facts such as China's high tariffs on US and EU products or the enormous costs for foreign manufacturers to setup shop in China or the fact the foreigners are not allowed to own property in China.

Yep, it's about time. Thank you president Trump.

I was informed by someone in the audio business, that it had been falling off well before tariffs. Saturated market and a surge in quality with the personal lifestyle products that most people are interested in now.

Speakers aren't as 'audibly' more superior than 10 years ago, as the marketers claim, and the below 12khz hearing range boomers, are figuring this out. Everyone I know who has even a remote interest in audio, (two channel, at least) went the vintage route. I won't need to purchase anything else for the rest of my life.

You know audio industry has eaten itself out of house and home when people are looking to DACs (of all things), for tone control, and the marketers pushing it as such. I pretty much lost all interest in anything this desperate industry has to say, or claim since before the tariffs were even a thought. Way too many hands that don't create any value to the products in that pie for me, and even the DIY side is pushing it's luck on the parts end of things.

 

[TankTop5]

I was informed by someone in the audio business, that it had been falling off well before tariffs. Saturated market and a surge in quality with the personal lifestyle products that most people are interested in now.

Speakers aren't as 'audibly' more superior than 10 years ago, as the marketers claim, and the below 12khz hearing range boomers, are figuring this out. Everyone I know who has even a remote interest in audio, (two channel, at least) went the vintage route. I won't need to purchase anything else for the rest of my life.

You know audio industry has eaten itself out of house and home when people are looking to DACs (of all things), for tone control, and the marketers pushing it as such. I pretty much lost all interest in anything this desperate industry has to say, or claim since before the tariffs were even a thought. Way too many hands that don't create any value to the products in that pie for me, and even the DIY side is pushing it's luck on the parts end of things.

Thread derailed but you do have a point to an extent. Speakers are getting better and there are many more options for fantastic speakers at a better price point even while many manufacturers are pushing expensive options. The diminishing returns are far more diminishing after 50.